To What Extent Does Where We Live Effect What We Paint?

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I spent all of my working life away from where I grew up. On retirement I moved back 'home'; the East Riding. I hadn't fully realised just how much I missed the river—the Humber. So, most of my drawing and painting is along or near the river bank. The East Riding is an intensively farmed area and I have very many reservations about that kind of industrial monoculture. Rather than fight against it I decided to embrace it despite those reservations and the results have been interesting. There can be something fascinating about a big field of crop and there are still places where I can stand sketching and listen to the skylark and the cuckoo. The challenge is to find ways to depict a landscape that both fascinates and disturbs me. Cold day, New Crops Acrylic and mixed media on canvas, 12x12 inches.
Lovely painting John. I also like listening to the birds when painting outdoors, even if only in my garden, and I share your fascination with a field of crops.
I was brought up in industrial Bolton, a land of mills factories and chimney pots, a Lowrie world if you will. Over years all that has disappeared to be replaced by a cleaner, greener land. I spent two years in Waslden, Yorkshire which was a lovely environment scenicaly, then came back to Bolton. I'll ever love it for what it was, fog, soot and woodbines and all. I still enjoy painting those days as well as the beautiful bits. There's always something to paint. ....and then you have the plus of imagination. 
I lived in Australia for almost 2 decades and it struck me recently that I would have had some difficulty in dreaming up something to submit for the December challenge that was remotely ‘Christmasy’. Being back there at the moment, on holiday, with time on my hands it would be nice to think of a contribution. So, if you see something that looks like it’s in the wrong month’s challenge, it’ll be mine (probably). I suppose it underlines that it very often does make a difference to what you paint.
BBQ On The beach maybe Ron?! What do Aussie Christmas cards look like?
I live in a little village so most of my surroundings are trees and fields, this has influenced what I paint (without me realising until now). I’ve been trying to paint trees and fields. This results in lots of green blobs on green patches with a green backgrounds (these usually end up making handy spare bits of paper). 
BBQ On The beach maybe Ron?! What do Aussie Christmas cards look like?
Tessa Gwynne on 13/12/2019 08:30:42
Traditionally Boxing Day on the beach. Looks like it’s going to be seafood rather than turkey this year, Tessa. Chrissy cards, in WA, tend to have Aussie wildlife on them or ‘six white boomers (kangaroos)’ pulling a sleigh. I’ll have to look around for some inspiration. 
Haha yes sadly I did google ‘Aussie Christmas cards’ and came up with an assortment of kangaroos, koalas etc complete with Santa hats etc! Enjoy the warmth Ron while we’re struggling with gale force winds and chilly days.
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